For the first time, 70% of cancer patients now live at least five years post-diagnosis, according to the 2026 statistics report from the American Cancer Society. To put that in perspective, the latest number is up from 50% in the 1970s and 63% in the 1990s. ​ Anyone who has dealt with cancer either personally or peripherally has likely heard the five-year mark described as a key milestone for survival, as the risk of recurrence often decreases substantially after this point. ​ Rebecca Siegel, lead author of the statistics study published Tuesday, told NBC News that advances in treatment have turned many cancers from death sentences into chronic diseases. An estimated 4.8 million cancer deaths were prevented between 1991 and 2023, an achievement credited to early detection, declining smoking rates, and scientists’ deepening understanding of how cancer develops and spreads. ​ “It takes decades for research to understand and develop these more effective treatments, and now we’re seeing...